CRITIQUE – The Argentinian conductor and harpsichordist celebrates the 300th anniversary of Bach’s “Saint John Passion” at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
La Plata. A little over thirty-five years ago. In his father’s garage, 11-year-old Leonardo conducts his makeshift harpsichord — a piano that he transformed by poking the hammers with thumbtacks — the Mass in B minor by Johann Sebastian Bach… At least, the recording of the Mass in andwhich he plays on the family turntable, and above which he improvises his own continuo while giving the starts to his sister.
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The future star dancer of the Wiesbaden Opera also practices her dance moves in her father’s garage. Paris. This evening. The same Leonardo is preparing to lead the Passion according to Saint John by a certain Johann Sebastian Bach, in a version choreographed by Sasha Waltz.
The same glow can be seen in his eyes. That of a person passionate about the music of the Cantor of Leipzig, who does not hesitate to describe these vast oratorios that are his Passions as « works of total art, whose universal discourse is intended to address to the greatest number »
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